Chuka Umunna says he’d defy a Labour whip to vote for Syria airtsrikes

Chuka Umunna, former shadow Business Secretary, has said that he would defy a Labour whip on Syria if there were one.

.@ChukaUmunna tells #Murnaghan he’d defy whip & vote for Syria airstrikes: “You have to do what you think is right” https://t.co/74KBke7kxP

— Murnaghan (@SkyMurnaghan) November 29, 2015

Jeremy Corbyn this morning said that he hasn’t decided whether there will be a free vote on Britain joining the bombing campaign against ISIS in Syria but reiterated his opposition to these plans. A number of Labour MPs are thought to want to support David Cameron’s plan to carry out airstrikes, but it is not clear how many.

It’s thought a vote will take place on Wednesday. The MP for Stretham told Murnghan this morning that he was minded to support airstrikes but would have to wait to see the wording of the motion before he made up his mind.

He defended Jeremy Corbyn and said that he welcomed different views in the party. Umunna said on issues of war and peace he was glad there was a broad number of views in the Labour party, pointing out that there were also divides in the Conservative party on the question of airstrikes.

“I do hope that we can find a way through this where we can reconcile the different views,” he said.

Umunna also said Corbyn remained a suitable candidate for Prime Minister and that Corbyn had an incredible difficult job.